Quick News – April 25, 2012

Alicia Malone is a Film Reporter, TV Host, Producer, Writer, Editor, and all around movie geek. She developed her taste for film at a young age, spending many a heady Friday night pajama-clad at the video store, picking out her 7 films for 7 days for $7. Bargain! While at school she created a Film Club, electing herself President. Eventually the School Principal asked her not to get up in assembly to talk about movies anymore.

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Firstly, looks like John McClane has again forgotten to pack his hairpiece; these set pics from “A Good Day to Die Hard” evidently show a bald, jacket-wearing McClane lost without his rug in Budapest (more pics here).

Sony Pictures have announced that “Transformers” and “Star Trek” scribes Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci will work on the sequel to “The Amazing Spider-Man”.

The first draft of the May 2, 2014 release was written by James Vanderbilt. Production is tentatively scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2013 on the flick. Producer Matt Tolmach said: “Alex and Bob have a unique ability to write great character and spectacular action that makes them pitch perfect for Spider-Man. They’ve been friends of ours for a long time and they have an exciting take on the franchise – we’re thrilled to have them join the Spider-Man family.” Producer Avi Arad added: “It’s a thrill to have Alex and Bob put their stamp on this franchise that we all love so well. They have an innate understanding of what makes Peter Parker not just a superhero, but a hero for all of us.” Kurtzman and Orci said: “We grew up as huge Spider-Man fans so, to us, the opportunity to work on this film is akin to being handed the Holy Grail. We love the direction Sony and the filmmakers are taking the Peter Parker/Spider-Man mythology and we couldn’t be more excited to be a part of this legendary franchise.”

The first film, “The Amazing Spider-Man”, opens in theaters this summer on July 3.

Owen Wilson, who has done the odd action movie here and there (namely “Behind Enemy Lines”), will return to the genre to do John Erick Dowdle’s next, “The Coup”. ” The film is described as an intense thriller centered on an American family that moves to Southeast Asia and finds themselves embroiled in a violent coup where rebels mercilessly attack the city. Wilson plays the father in a film that has the tone of Taken, and puts him in action mode for the first time since Behind Enemy Lines”, says Deadline.

Bunch of new animated films, including “The Good Dinosaur”, Pete Doktor’s “Dia de los Muertos“ and a 3D re-issue of “Monster’s Inc”, were announced today by Disney at CinemaCon.

The 2009 black list script “Cut Blank” is getting its due. Teresa Palmer, Armie Hammer, Ben Kingsley, John Malkovich, and Michael Sheen will star in the drama about a highschool football star who wants to escape smalltown Montana. Matt Shakman (“House”) directs.

Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman will be back for “Thor 2″, but what of Stellan Skarsgard? ” They’re working on it and they hope to start shooting in the fall, and I hope to be in it. They have me on contract so… And I’d love to work with those guys again. I’m having fun in the Marvel films.” (Digital Spy)

NEW YORK, April 24th, 2012 – Gus Van Sant, a two-time Academy Award nominee for Best Director, is directing Promised Land, a contemporary drama from an original screenplay written by John Krasinski and Matt Damon, based on a story by Dave Eggers. Participant Media is co-financing the movie, for which Focus will hold worldwide rights and commence overseas sales at the Cannes International Film Festival in May. Filming begins this week in Pennsylvania for release next winter. Focus president of production Jeb Brody made the announcement today.

Participant’s Jeff Skoll and Jonathan King (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) is executive-producing Promised Land with Mr. Van Sant and Ron Schmidt (Bandslam). Mr. Damon and Mr. Krasinski are producing the movie with Chris Moore. Mr. Moore co-produced Good Will Hunting, which brought its stars and co-writers, Mr. Damon and Ben Affleck, the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. Mr. Van Sant earned his first Oscar nomination for directing Good Will Hunting; his second came for directing Focus’ Milk, which won two Academy Awards. Mr. Krasinski previously starred for Focus in Away We Go, which was co-written by Mr. Eggers. Mr. Damon previously starred for Participant in Contagion.

In addition to Mr. Damon and Mr. Krasinski, the cast of Promised Land includes Rosemarie DeWitt (Rachel Getting Married), Academy Award nominee Hal Holbrook (Into the Wild), Scoot McNairy (Monsters), Titus Welliver (The Town), and, in her fourth film for Focus, Academy Award winner Frances McDormand. The movie’s crew includes Linus Sandgren (Shelter) as cinematographer, Dan Clancy (The Dilemma) as production designer, and Juliet Polcsa (The Sopranos) as costume designer.

Mr. Damon plays Steve Butler, a corporate salesman who arrives in a rural town with his sales partner, Sue Thomason (Ms. McDormand). With the town having been hit hard by the economic decline of recent years, the two outsiders see the local citizens as likely to accept their company’s offer, for drilling rights to their properties, as much-needed relief. What seems like an easy job for the duo becomes complicated by the objection of a respected schoolteacher (Mr. Holbrook) with support from a grassroots campaign led by another man (Mr. Krasinski) who counters Steve both personally and professionally.

Mr. Krasinski commented, “Matt and I wanted to write a story about American identity. In all of today’s political and economic rhetoric, I feel people often lose sight of the deeper, core principles of what defines us as a country. We knew we needed to find a contemporary issue that would serve as the backdrop to the story but, more importantly, allow us to fully explore this idea.”

Mr. Brody said, “Matt and John’s script is rich in Frank Capra-esque qualities, blending humor and heart while exploring the power of community in this day and age. An actor’s director like Gus will bring forth all the emotions in the story, which is a true passion project for everyone. We’re proud to be making Promised Land with Participant as our creative and financial partner.”

‘Jean’ tells us that David Morse (“The Green Mile”, “The Rock”) is attached to star in director Josh C.Waller’s thriller “McCanick”. Set over the course of a long, hot day, the movie tells of a narcotics detective (Morse) who finds himself in a spot of bother when a feared criminal is released from prison, and hunts him down – for unknown reasons.

Robert Rodriguez’s “Fire and Ice”, which will be animated, will follow “Sin City 2″.

Alicia Malone is a Film Reporter, TV Host, Producer, Writer, Editor, and all around movie geek. She developed her taste for film at a young age, spending many a heady Friday night pajama-clad at the video store, picking out her 7 films for 7 days for $7. Bargain! While at school she created a Film Club, electing herself President. Eventually the School Principal asked her not to get up in assembly to talk about movies anymore.

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